DiyLightAnimation
Fun => The Porch => Topic started by: TexasStingray on January 02, 2013,
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Some of you many have read that I have created a Standalone SD Card RGB DMX Controller. I have also been playing around with Pixelnet, which got me thing. Instead of a Standalone RGB DMX SD Card Controller would it be better to have a Standalone SD Card DMX Player that would send out DMX Signals reading the values to send from an SD Card. As DMX is only 512 channels I think this would be do able. It would not have the ability to send sound, as if you wanted that then the conductor would be the way to go. Just thinking, your thoughts.
Added pics.
Video Added
http://youtu.be/jM-1DKF5AOU
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Sounds good. If you were to modify a conductor file to only have 512 channels it may be easier for end user and you to create data needed to go on the card. Most software used to sequence has some path to create a conductor file. The users would just make sure the elements sequenced are located in first 512 channels. So maybe you can create a utility that strips the first 512 channels from a conductor file and creates a file for your sd card.
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An SD card based DMX player would be a useful item, especially for year-round items.
Josh
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I have wanted a standalone (no-computer) driver for some low channel count Servo and Light sculptures (no audio). The conductor is overkill. This might be perfect.
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Thought I would post some pics of the Panther DMX Player. The first pic is the board without the SD Card module plugged in. The second one is with it plugged in and next to a Lynx USB Dongle for size comparison, as it was designed to fit in the same case. There are 2 sets of jumpers near the back of the RJ45 plug to allow it to feed out the supply 12 volts to power a low current single DMX device if needed. I have also added a set of 5 pin connectors (not installed) near the bottom right for future use. Now just to get some professional PCB make.
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I'd be interested in a DMX SD Card Player. Could see quite a few uses doing off season stuff.
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Count me in.....Although the Conductoris cool, and I see it's potential, it is somewhat overkill for the smaller projects...play out 1 or 2 sequences..repeat...
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Cool stuff can't wait to see it in action.
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This is exactly what I have been looking for to drive some standalone animation. All of them have low channel count and repeat the sequence every few minutes but currently I have to use a computer to drive them (no conductor yet).
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This would be great to control my Aethers in the off season as uplighting for my yard. Im very interested.
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What about transmitting 4 universes of DMX over the 4 pairs coming from the RJ45 connector? (...like RJ does for the 4 Pixelnet universes coming out of the EtD)
2048 addresses would be great, and it would only require a combiner (or similar made from cables/pigtails) to access each of the universes.
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The pic RJ uses in EtherDongle is very powerful and fast and has at least 4 Uarts.
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The pic RJ uses in EtherDongle is very powerful and fast and has at least 4 Uarts.
I'm hoping there is still enough ooomph in StingRay's design. There would be just 1/8 the number of channels (2048/16384), pixelnet timings are faster compared to DMX, and RJ planned a lot of reserve capacity in EtD for the mp3 and network features.
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Count me in as interested too.
Ron
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What about transmitting 4 universes of DMX over the 4 pairs coming from the RJ45 connector? (...like RJ does for the 4 Pixelnet universes coming out of the EtD)
2048 addresses would be great, and it would only require a combiner (or similar made from cables/pigtails) to access each of the universes.
While this may be possible, I have a qustion. Is there really a need for that many channels with NO sound.
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What about transmitting 4 universes of DMX over the 4 pairs coming from the RJ45 connector? (...like RJ does for the 4 Pixelnet universes coming out of the EtD)
2048 addresses would be great, and it would only require a combiner (or similar made from cables/pigtails) to access each of the universes.
While this may be possible, I have a qustion. Is there really a need for that many channels with NO sound.
There are DMX decoders that can control smart strings. With smart strings you can go through channels quickly. While these decoders can handle SSC-compatible strings, you might also use such a device if you wanted to use the WS2811 strings.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/LT-DMX-1809-WS2811-DMX-Decoder-support-WS2811-TM1804-TM1809-TM1812-driving-IC-DC5V-24V-input/701799_583679340.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/LT-DMX-1809-WS2811-DMX-Decoder-support-WS2811-TM1804-TM1809-TM1812-driving-IC-DC5V-24V-input/701799_583679340.html)
Using DMX to drive pixels will limit you to 170 pixels per DMX universe. With 4 universes you'd have incremental cost, but the ability to do 4 times the work -- 680 pixels.
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I have wanted a standalone (no-computer) driver for some low channel count Servo and Light sculptures (no audio). The conductor is overkill. This might be perfect.
How are you planning to put sequences onto the SD card? Did I miss that?
I could use a basic, single universe DMX player. Just a single sequence that looped.
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I have wanted a standalone (no-computer) driver for some low channel count Servo and Light sculptures (no audio). The conductor is overkill. This might be perfect.
How are you planning to put sequences onto the SD card? Did I miss that?
I could use a basic, single universe DMX player. Just a single sequence that looped.
I wondered the same thing...
What if you used the same file format used by conductor? Xlights can do conversions, lsp supports it, and the file format is simple. You'd just ignore the extra channel data for 2049-16384.
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The SEQ File is one continue binary file. I use vixen os I create a converter that creates the SEQ file from the vixen sequence .vix file.
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I was thinking I would use it to control several floods or maybe some Halloween stuff. For me personally I think 512 channels would be plenty without music.
Of course I thought 512 was a lot with music a couple of years ago.
I'd say keep it simple and go with 512 as you planned initially. If there is a need to develop further in the future then address it then. That way you get it out quicker.
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Count me in think I could find lots of use for this in off season and Halloween displays - have some arduino programming and would be willing to help bata test if you need ...
Ted K
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I have been looking for a stand alone dmx controller to cycle thru colors for some landscaping rgb led lights. this would work perfectly for that.
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Today was not to good of a day for my testing. Using the Arduino ATMEGA328P Chip has shown me how slow it is. I originally thought it would handle the 512 Channels as 50ms, Looks like it will only support 100ms. While it might be acceptable for some uses I not sure if that many people would won't something that slow. Please let me know what you think. Should I go with the 100ms or try learning how to program pic chips and go for a faster chip which would delay my release.
Thanks
Scott Wanner
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100ms is plenty fast for anything i may need.
Thanks
Roy
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If you plan on this forum being your main forum for sharing your creations. Learn how to write PIC firmware. Most people have a pic programmer on this forum.
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If you plan on this forum being your main forum for sharing your creations. Learn how to write PIC firmware. Most people have a pic programmer on this forum.
+1
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The Arduino software layers slow things down quite a bit. Try doing direct register read/write instead and it should speed things up.
/mike
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I'd say keep at this version and 100ms is fine for what I was planning on. I'd like to see the Arduino version because it interests me. If you want to pursue further then I would say after this is done look at a PIC and see if you can expand on the current design. Might be a good learning path for you and others.
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Yeah for me I was just planning on a few aethers doing color changes slowly, so 100ms is fine for what I would use it for.
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For the uses I have in mind speed is not a big issue. I think cost and reliability are more important. I want to be able to set this up on a timer or maybe a button input to start it and have it run without an other intervention.
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Ok, I'll stay with the Arduino & 100ms and look at PIC later. Please post anything you think would be of value.
Thanks
Scott
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Without audio and trying to hit fast beats, I would think 100 ms would be fine.
Wondering if this idea could somehow be combined with Bobcat's DMX tester. Sort of a tester/player for a small number of channels.
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I was looking at controlling the Bobcat Servo boards more than anything else. For servos, speed is mostly ignored. They only move so fast, anyway. 100ms would be fine. But, if you could find a way to bypass the interpreted layer in Arduino, faster would always be appreciated.
Biggest problem for me would be that I couldn't update the firmware if it changed.
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You can talk directly to registers from within an Arduino sketch. For example, to talk to port B bit 0, use
PORTB |= 0x01; to set it, PORTB &= ~0x01; to clear it, and x = PINB & 0x01; to read it. You will also need to set the direction (input out output) by settling bit 0 of DDRB.
http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=37871 is a good tutorial on bit manipulation.
/mike
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Finally a video of the Panther DMX Player.
http://youtu.be/jM-1DKF5AOU
Scott
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I can see the possiblities for my landscaping :). Very Exciting
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Finally a video of the Panther DMX Player.
http://youtu.be/jM-1DKF5AOU
Scott
Very cool, thanks for sharing. Always nice to see a project working!
Ron
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Well done. Just what I need for my standalone animation. How soon are you going to release it?
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I am currently working on checking Coop Rules to see of I can do the coop so I can program the chips before they go out. I think I should have a group of people to beta test it first. I do not want to have any problems with it or the DLA coop rules. Not sure what the coop manager requirements are. I a have been a DLA member for just over 2 years. I might have to have a coop off of DLA. I am still working on finalizing the PCB. I want to make it easy to debug also. I have 6 of the PCB modules on the way from EBAY that I was wanting to go with the player. I was also planning on buying a CNC machine at the end of February to drill the holes for the enclosure. There really is not that may components to the actual player so I really do not think there is much of a saving. but I just want to be sure everything needed to complete the player is shipped to the users with out have to order items from here and there causing the actual build price to go up. I'm hoping to keep it cheep for every one. With that said I would like to have a coop by the end of February if everything works out.
Scott
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I like this and for the same reasons others have already mentioned. Lighting projects around the yard etc. Look forward to seeing this go further.
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willing to be a beta test if you need one
Could bread board the arduino would most likely have all the parts needed already - uno with sdcard shield and can program the atmega328 chip with the boot strap program. This sounds vary usefull and willing to help if I can
Ted K
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willing to be beta tester have pickit3 programmer and breadboard
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Would be interested in beta also. Have several Arduino and other parts and pieces.
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Just Ordered 10 pcb's I when they come in (It could take as long as 30 Days so I have been told) I will contact the individuals that have request to beta test for me with the details.
Thanks
Scott
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can't wait hope i make the beta tester list
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Just in case anyone wants an update on this.
The PCB's for my beta testers are in. I built the first one and it works perfect. Totally surprised for my 1st PCB or they look great.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/58620146/DSCN0218.JPG
Scott
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Just in case anyone wants an update on this.
The PCB's for my beta testers are in. I built the first one and it works perfect. Totally surprised for my 1st PCB or they look great.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/58620146/DSCN0218%5B1%5D.JPG
Scott
Looks nice. I want one. 8)
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<pop..
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Very nice.
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I like the name you chose. Keeping in the "family". :)
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with my best Frankinfurter accent, I'm waiting with "Anticipation"
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here is the bridge i found
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I checked mine and it looks OK. I'll get my board built tonight and report back.
Ron
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Had my 10 yr old build it, testing tonight at work......ahh the joys of working night shift !!!!